Eye-Openers: Monterey embraces ag-tourism and Groupon gets desperate

Gargantuan figures of farm workers by local artist John Cerney decorate The Farm, an agricultural education center and demonstration farm in Salinas.

Things look a little different around here, eh? Here’s the morning reading to shake up the morning: Harold McGee talks food bacteria, the new Plate Shop is reviewed, another take on Boxing Room, chefs ride the new Nordic movement, and Monterey embraces its “salad bowl” reputation — and seen above, that’s one of the coolest photos you’ll see today.

From the local scene:

Agriculture and tourism are the first and second biggest money-makers in Monterey, respectively. Now, they’re coming together with a bunch of farm tours and educational programs. [SFGate]

On the new version of Sausalito’s Plate Shop: “There is already a certain ease and lack of pretense at Plate Shop that was missing in its first incarnation. With a new team known for one of the sweetest neighborhood restaurants around, Plate Shop can refocus, put the rocky start behind it and begin with a clean plate — er, slate.” [Marin IJ]

Chicago isn’t very thrilled with Michael Jordan’s new steak house: “You have to wonder at the savvy of somebody who could survey the Chicago restaurant scene and conclude: ‘What this city needs is another steakhouse!'” [Chicago Sun-Times]